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which was the more reprehensible of the two： Matilda was more rude and
boisterous； but from Rosalie's womanly age and lady…like exterior better
things were expected： yet she was as provokingly careless and
inconsiderate as a giddy child of twelve。
One bright day in the last week of February； I was walking in the park；
enjoying the threefold luxury of solitude； a book； and pleasant weather； for
Miss Matilda had set out on her daily ride； and Miss Murray was gone in
the carriage with her mamma to pay some morning calls。 But it struck
me that I ought to leave these selfish pleasures； and the park with its
glorious canopy of bright blue sky； the west wind sounding through its yet
leafless branches； the snow…wreaths still lingering in its hollows； but
melting fast beneath the sun； and the graceful deer browsing on its moist
herbage already assuming the freshness and verdure of spring … and go to
the cottage of one Nancy Brown； a widow； whose son was at work all day
in the fields； and who was afflicted with an inflammation in the eyes；
which had for some time incapacitated her from reading： to her own
great grief； for she was a woman of a serious； thoughtful turn of mind。 I
accordingly went； and found her alone； as usual； in her little； close； dark
cottage； redolent of smoke and confined air； but as tidy and clean as she
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could make it。 She was seated beside her little fire （consisting of a few
red cinders and a bit of stick）； busily knitting； with a small sackcloth
cushion at her feet； placed for the accommodation of her gentle friend the
cat； who was seated thereon； with her long tail half encircling her velvet
paws； and her half…closed eyes dreamily gazing on the low； crooked
fender。
'Well； Nancy； how are you to…day？'
'Why； middling； Miss； i' myseln … my eyes is no better； but I'm a deal
easier i' my mind nor I have been；' replied she； rising to welcome me with
a contented smile； which I was glad to see； for Nancy had been somewhat
afflicted with religious melancholy。 I congratulated her upon the change。
She agreed that it was a great blessing； and expressed herself 'right down
thankful for it'； adding； 'If it please God to spare my sight； and make me so
as I can read my Bible again； I think I shall be as happy as a queen。'
'I hope He will； Nancy；' replied I； 'and； meantime； I'll come and read to
you now and then； when I have a little time to spare。'
With expressions of grateful pleasure； the poor woman moved to get
me a chair； but； as I saved her the trouble； she busied herself with stirring
the fire； and adding a few more sticks to the decaying embers； and then；
taking her well…used Bible from the shelf； dusted it carefully； and gave it
me。 On my asking if there was any particular part she should like me to
read； she answered …
'Well； Miss Grey； if it's all the same to you； I should like to hear that
chapter in the First Epistle of St。 John； that says； 〃God is love； and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God； and God in him。〃'
With a little searching； I found these words in the fourth chapter。 When
I came to the seventh verse she interrupted me； and； with needless
apologies for such a liberty； desired me to read it very slowly； that she
might take it all in； and dwell on every word； hoping I would excuse her；
as she was but a 'simple body。'
'The wisest person；' I replied； 'might think over each of these verses for
an hour； and be all the better for it； and I would rather read them slowly
than not。'
Accordingly； I finished the chapter as slowly as need be； and at the
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same time as impressively as I could； my auditor listened most attentively
all the while； and sincerely thanked me when I had done。 I sat still about
half a minute to give her time to reflect upon it； when； somewhat to my
surprise； she broke the pause by asking me how I liked Mr。 Weston？
'I don't know；' I replied； a little startled by the suddenness of the
question； 'I think he preaches very well。'
'Ay； he does so； and talks well too。'
'Does he？'
'He does。 Maybe； you haven't seen him … not to talk to him much；
yet？'
'No； I never see any one to talk to … except the young ladies of the
Hall。'
'Ah； they're nice； kind young ladies； but they can't talk as he does。'
'Then he comes to see you； Nancy？'
'He does； Miss； and I'se thankful for it。 He comes to see all us poor
bodies a deal ofter nor Maister Bligh； or th' Rector ever did； an' it's well he
does； for he's always welcome： we can't say as much for th' Rector …
there is 'at says they're fair feared on him。 When he comes into a house；
they say he's sure to find summut wrong； and begin a…calling 'em as soon
as he crosses th' doorstuns： but maybe he thinks it his duty like to tell 'em
what's wrong。 And very oft he comes o' purpose to reprove folk for not
coming to church； or not kneeling an' standing when other folk does； or
going to the Methody chapel； or summut o' that sort： but I can't say 'at he
ever fund much fault wi' me。 He came to see me once or twice； afore
Maister Weston come； when I was so ill troubled in my mind； and as I had
only very poor health besides； I made bold to send for him … and he came
right enough。 I was sore distressed； Miss Grey … thank God； it's owered
now … but when I took my Bible； I could get no comfort of it at all。 That
very chapter 'at you've just been reading troubled me as much as aught …
〃He that loveth not； knoweth not God。〃 It seemed fearsome to me； for I
felt that I loved neither God nor man as I should do； and could not； if I
tried ever so。 And th' chapter afore； where it says； … 〃He that is born of
God cannot commit sin。〃 And another place where it says； … 〃Love is the
fulfilling of the Law。〃 And many； many others； Miss： I should fair
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weary you out； if I was to tell them all。 But all seemed to condemn me；
and to show me 'at I was not in the right way； and as I knew not how to get